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Readers Vote: MPLS's 26 Most Missed Restaurants

by Claire Stanford
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by Claire Stanford

Last week, we asked what closed Twin Cities restaurants you, the readers, miss the most. The answers came pouring in, through the comments and the tipline, making it our most popular open thread yet.

Here, mapped, are the 13 most-missed places that commenters left their fond remembrances of AND that we could find addresses for (the long-departed are not so always so easy to track down). Listed below the map are the other 13 restaurants that got shout outs, making for a total of the 26 most missed restaurants in the Twin Cities. RIP.

Do you want to add another beloved departed restaurant to the list? Let us know in the comments.


13 More Missed Restaurants
· Town Talk Diner: "couldn't believe it ever closed"
· "The REAL Figlio's"
· D'Amico Cucina
· Zander Cafe
· "The original Fuji Ya (back when it was located in the Mill District, overlooking the Mississippi River)"
· "Cafe Brenda!"
· Big E's: "for everything, but mostly the crawfish étouffé"
· Cafe Havana: "for the ambiance"
· Chet's Taverna: "enough said" & "I really miss this place"
· Nick & Eddie
· Pickled Parrot
· Jimmy's Lemon Tree
· "Curry Leaf Deli in St. Paul, on Grand, where Everest is now. They made amazing food."

· What Closed TC Restaurant Do You Miss the Most? [Eater MPLS]
· All Previous Open Threads [Eater MPLS]

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Cafe 28

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2724 West 43rd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55410
This popular Linden Hills spot (known for its Friday night fish fry) closed on December 31, 2011. A commenter commemorates it thusly: "great ingredients (locally sourced), well prepared/presented (good flavor combos), insanely great prices, and all that in one of the cutest neighborhoods in the twin cities [linden hills]."

2. Lincoln Del

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4100 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Once, there were three Lincoln Dels in the Cities; now, there are none. A commenter writes, "Where else are you getting chicken livers in this town?" Where else, indeed.

3. El Meson

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3450 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
A commenter wrote, "I miss El Meson on 34th and Lyndale S. They had paella and ceviche that were to die for. And the patio! What a great summer evening you could have at that spot! Luckily they opened another spot, Rincon 38, at 38th and Grand, a lovely tapas bar, but alas, no paella, no ceviche. Tear." That says it all, we think.

4. Uptown Bar & Cafe

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3018 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55408
This Uptown landmark is mourned on the daily. A commenter writes, "Uptown Bar - without a doubt best cheap breakfast, free glasses, and bloody marys. Nirvana and R.E.M. played there. Almost shed a tear when it went down."

5. Rotisseria

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1409 West Lake Street, Calhoun Square
Minneapolis, MN 55408
A commenter writes, "Rotisseria in Uptown. I know he sells his green hot sauce in Minnetonka, but I desperately miss my Peruvian chicken and red beans fix."

6. Two Pesos

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1320 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Two Pesos gave way to Cowboy Slim's, which has, in turn, recently given way to...condos. A commenter writes, "The homemade tortillas were scrumptious and the old garage atmosphere was casual and fun."

7. Sunny Side Up Cafe

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2702 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
This Uptown brunch staple shut its doors in 2011, and it will eventually be home to upcoming restaurant Heyday. A commenter writes, "I miss the Sunnyside Up Cafe on Lyndale. I have yet to find a place that even comes close to their biscuits and gravy."

8. Auriga

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1930 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Housed in the space now occupied by Rye Deli, Auriga closed in 2007 after nearly 10 years in the business, leading co-owner Doug Flicker to go on to open a little place you might have heard about called Piccolo. A commenter writes, "Auriga for so many reasons....Luckily, Doug Flicker is still creating amazing culinary wonders at piccolo. Also, fortunately, Scott Davis and Erin Tomczyk have carried on the thin crust pizza with superb toppings at Toast Wine Bar and Cafe...not to mention, the fantastic selection of vino. Still miss the bar at auriga...."

9. King And I

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1346 Lasalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
The relatively recently-departed King and I Thai was one of the most-mourned restaurants, with several mentions. "I miss King & I Thai. That subterranean nook was a favorite happy hour and dinner location of mine for many years," wrote the very first commenter, who was immediately seconded: "King and I, all the way. I was heartbroken." And thirded: "King and I was my favorite Thai food." And fourthed: "King & I for Sunday night curry delivery." And so on.

10. Brother's Deli

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700 On the Mall, Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
A commenter nominates the old Brother's Deli, housed next to Dayton's (not to be confused with the current Brother's Deli on 6th St.). We'll let the comment speak for itself: "Most of you don't remember The Brothers deli, both downtown and, as I remember, in St. Louis Park. The downtown location was in the Dayton/Radisson arcade. It was the first deli I went to, in the '60s, but I didn't know it was a deli at the time. It was just a restaurant that my Mom, who'd lived in New York, took us to after the back to school shopping at Dayton's. But I knew it wasn't a place I'd find in Northfield. I loved a place where pickles were on the table and free (at least to me)."

11. Faegre's Bar and Restaurant

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430 North 1st Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Faegre's closed in the late 90s, but has not been forgotten, especially its caesar salad. A commenter writes, "Faegre's Bar and Restaurant. Used to be in the kickernick bldg. on the corner of first and fifth. Still miss there Caesar salad. This was the first time I ever had fries with bearnaise sauce. No one has ever done it as well."

12. Om

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401 North 1st Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401
A reader wrote into the tipline: "I really miss Om in Minneapolis. While short-lived, Om served this amazing cardamom thai chile soup that played with the senses, alternating from spicy to sweet as well as other great creations from Chef Raghavan Iyer like grilled saffron paneer with raspberries and hot out of the oven green chile-potato naan that was eaten so quickly we learned to order double. Plus, the space was stunning with cozy benches, a gorgeous center-stage chandelier and vibrant colors. It was a great place for a nice dinner or to grab drinks with friends."

13. Chez Bananas

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129 North 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Chez Bananas got a couple of votes, and how could it not, with a name like that? A commenter writes, "Chez Bananas for its great food/drink and especially atmosphere. It was my go to restaurant for first dates and fun occasions," and another shouts out the curries in particular.

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1. Cafe 28

2724 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
This popular Linden Hills spot (known for its Friday night fish fry) closed on December 31, 2011. A commenter commemorates it thusly: "great ingredients (locally sourced), well prepared/presented (good flavor combos), insanely great prices, and all that in one of the cutest neighborhoods in the twin cities [linden hills]."
2724 West 43rd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55410

2. Lincoln Del

4100 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Once, there were three Lincoln Dels in the Cities; now, there are none. A commenter writes, "Where else are you getting chicken livers in this town?" Where else, indeed.
4100 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55416

3. El Meson

3450 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
A commenter wrote, "I miss El Meson on 34th and Lyndale S. They had paella and ceviche that were to die for. And the patio! What a great summer evening you could have at that spot! Luckily they opened another spot, Rincon 38, at 38th and Grand, a lovely tapas bar, but alas, no paella, no ceviche. Tear." That says it all, we think.
3450 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

4. Uptown Bar & Cafe

3018 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55408
This Uptown landmark is mourned on the daily. A commenter writes, "Uptown Bar - without a doubt best cheap breakfast, free glasses, and bloody marys. Nirvana and R.E.M. played there. Almost shed a tear when it went down."
3018 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55408

5. Rotisseria

1409 West Lake Street, Calhoun Square, Minneapolis, MN 55408
A commenter writes, "Rotisseria in Uptown. I know he sells his green hot sauce in Minnetonka, but I desperately miss my Peruvian chicken and red beans fix."
1409 West Lake Street, Calhoun Square
Minneapolis, MN 55408

6. Two Pesos

1320 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Two Pesos gave way to Cowboy Slim's, which has, in turn, recently given way to...condos. A commenter writes, "The homemade tortillas were scrumptious and the old garage atmosphere was casual and fun."
1320 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408

7. Sunny Side Up Cafe

2702 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
This Uptown brunch staple shut its doors in 2011, and it will eventually be home to upcoming restaurant Heyday. A commenter writes, "I miss the Sunnyside Up Cafe on Lyndale. I have yet to find a place that even comes close to their biscuits and gravy."
2702 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

8. Auriga

1930 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Housed in the space now occupied by Rye Deli, Auriga closed in 2007 after nearly 10 years in the business, leading co-owner Doug Flicker to go on to open a little place you might have heard about called Piccolo. A commenter writes, "Auriga for so many reasons....Luckily, Doug Flicker is still creating amazing culinary wonders at piccolo. Also, fortunately, Scott Davis and Erin Tomczyk have carried on the thin crust pizza with superb toppings at Toast Wine Bar and Cafe...not to mention, the fantastic selection of vino. Still miss the bar at auriga...."
1930 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403

9. King And I

1346 Lasalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
The relatively recently-departed King and I Thai was one of the most-mourned restaurants, with several mentions. "I miss King & I Thai. That subterranean nook was a favorite happy hour and dinner location of mine for many years," wrote the very first commenter, who was immediately seconded: "King and I, all the way. I was heartbroken." And thirded: "King and I was my favorite Thai food." And fourthed: "King & I for Sunday night curry delivery." And so on.
1346 Lasalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403

10. Brother's Deli

700 On the Mall, Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
A commenter nominates the old Brother's Deli, housed next to Dayton's (not to be confused with the current Brother's Deli on 6th St.). We'll let the comment speak for itself: "Most of you don't remember The Brothers deli, both downtown and, as I remember, in St. Louis Park. The downtown location was in the Dayton/Radisson arcade. It was the first deli I went to, in the '60s, but I didn't know it was a deli at the time. It was just a restaurant that my Mom, who'd lived in New York, took us to after the back to school shopping at Dayton's. But I knew it wasn't a place I'd find in Northfield. I loved a place where pickles were on the table and free (at least to me)."
700 On the Mall, Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402

11. Faegre's Bar and Restaurant

430 North 1st Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Faegre's closed in the late 90s, but has not been forgotten, especially its caesar salad. A commenter writes, "Faegre's Bar and Restaurant. Used to be in the kickernick bldg. on the corner of first and fifth. Still miss there Caesar salad. This was the first time I ever had fries with bearnaise sauce. No one has ever done it as well."
430 North 1st Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401

12. Om

401 North 1st Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401
A reader wrote into the tipline: "I really miss Om in Minneapolis. While short-lived, Om served this amazing cardamom thai chile soup that played with the senses, alternating from spicy to sweet as well as other great creations from Chef Raghavan Iyer like grilled saffron paneer with raspberries and hot out of the oven green chile-potato naan that was eaten so quickly we learned to order double. Plus, the space was stunning with cozy benches, a gorgeous center-stage chandelier and vibrant colors. It was a great place for a nice dinner or to grab drinks with friends."
401 North 1st Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401

13. Chez Bananas

129 North 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Chez Bananas got a couple of votes, and how could it not, with a name like that? A commenter writes, "Chez Bananas for its great food/drink and especially atmosphere. It was my go to restaurant for first dates and fun occasions," and another shouts out the curries in particular.
129 North 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401

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